</s>KC 44-760 yourselves in his place, on the run from 200 million persons, without a known friend or voice raised in your behalf, and a hundred thousand dollar reward placed on your head. If you were innocent, how would you feel? In closing, I would like to say that if this article reaches a new- paper and is published read by Jimmy, I could like to advise you, Jimmy, as a friend to make immediate arrangements for your personal protection by contacting a Judge or Lawyer and give yourself up so that you can be given a fair trial. Don't put it until you are recognized by some trigger trial happy like Jack Ruby who wants to make a name to himself. You realize that you are on the top wanted list with a large reward on your own head. You know that the odds are against you because of this. You can't win. In the meantime, while you are thinking this over, if you happen to be cornered by police officers, for Christ's sake don't hold a shootout. Grab a phonebook and call a judge or lawyer. There's no need for me to mention my name because you know who I am. You do have some friends. Turn yourself in, but use discretion in doing so. 7 2019 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 1879

Summary  
This document contains FBI records from April 1968 detailing investigations into **James Earl Ray**, a former inmate at the Missouri State Penitentiary. The files reference Ray’s alleged prison escape in April 1967 via a bread container, his financial transactions between March 1960 and December 1960, and his suspected involvement in the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK). While no conclusive evidence links Ray to MLK’s murder is provided, multiple documents reference him as a suspect. Financial records include earnings and withdrawals from prison, with specific amounts noted for March 20, July 1960, September 1960, and December 1960.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray (JER):** Inmate number 2195 at Missouri State Penitentiary; allegedly escaped prison in April 1967 via a bread container. Suspected of involvement in MLK’s assassination but not definitively linked to the crime.  
- **Billy Edward Miles (02185):** Life-sentence inmate who claimed Ray operated a bookshop with him.  
- **Bernard J. Poiry:** Custodial Officer at Missouri State Penitentiary; confirmed Ray’s escape via the bread container.  
- **James Smith:** Investigator from Columbia Police Department; probed missing persons and Ray’s whereabouts.  
- **Walter Nolan:** Alleged "brains behind the KING murder" (reference to MLK).  
- **George Owens:** Prison bakery worker at Missouri State Penitentiary, possibly connected to Ray.  

Key Locations  
- **Missouri State Penitentiary (Columbia, MO):** Site of Ray’s incarceration and escape.  
- **Columbia, MO:** Home of Jean Pranger, who claimed to know a John Ray in Illinois.  
- **St. Louis, MO:** Mentioned as a location for Ray’s financial activities.  

Key Events  
- **Prison Escape (April 1967):** Ray allegedly escaped using a bread container from the prison bakery. The FBI investigated this incident but found no confirmed evidence linking him to MLK’s assassination.  
- **Investigation into MLK’s Assassination:** Multiple documents reference Ray as a suspect, though details remain unclear.  
- **Financial Transactions (March–December 1960):** Detailed records of Ray’s prison earnings and withdrawals, including $3.05 on March 20, $4.00 in July 1960, and $10.00 in September 1960.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI):** Conducted investigations into Ray’s prison escape, financial activities, and potential ties to MLK’s assassination.  
- **Missouri State Penitentiary:** Provided records on Ray’s incarceration, escape, and financial transactions.  

Disclaimers: This summary is based solely on the provided text; no external claims or conclusions are made. The documents do not confirm Ray’s guilt in MLK’s assassination, as per official records.

MLK Declassified Files

44-kc-760_404058_173-05-part_2_of_5.pdf

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